Will They Ever Laugh Again?

By Deborah Layton

Children outside, happily at play, 

Knowing they are safe, at least for today.

Using rolled up papers for their ball,

They giggle out loud, as one of them falls.

Suddenly, without warning, streaking across the skies,

This is when it happens, this is when someone dies.

Where will it go, where is it bound?

Tomorrow, so many bodies will be found.

There will be families torn apart,

People in shock, not knowing where to start.

Mothers, fathers, children, in pain, dying.

Blood leaking into the ditch where they are lying.

Looking through eyes filled with tears,

How can you bear to see their fears?

The heartache for that son or daughter.

They know what they will find,,,,slaughter!

The stench of hatred, as they are left to languish

It’s insane, as we all watch this, in anguish.

No love, no unity, they only want submission,

Only surrender, nothing but division.

The sun pushes through the grey cloud,

They start their day again, resilient and proud.

They must preserve what little they have,

No food, no water. They are left to starve!

That awful sound of the endless drones,

Quickly followed by painful moans.

The enemy brings nothing but destruction and hate.

Why should they accept this as their fate?

They are staying, there will be no “goodbye”,

They lift their eyes heavenwards with a heavy sigh.

They stand firm with the knowledge that they cannot be afraid,

Even though they have bore witness, raid after raid!

Will they ever laugh again?

Will flowers grow where the bodies have lain?

Will the butterflies again allow their wings to flutter,

Will they find peace, as their prayers they mutter?

WILL THEY EVER LAUGH AGAIN?

By Deborah Layton